Technologies

NASA’s Hubble telescope helps scientists solve mystery of dead galaxies

Why did some galaxies from the early universe suddenly stop making stars? Astronomers look back in time to find out.

As mere mortals, we yearn to travel back in time — an obsession nourished by iconic contraptions such as Marty McFly’s car, Hermione Granger’s time turner and Doctor Who’s police box. Often forgotten, however, are the real-life astronomers who kind of already do it.

Recently, one such research team tapped time travel to solve a space mystery from billions of years ago using a unique combination of super sensitive telescopes: Why did some of the early universe’s galaxies strangely stop popping out stars and become inactive, or quiescent?

Galaxies are thought to be at the pinnacle of their star manufacturing potential at this moment in time, so it’s especially puzzling when we discover any that are dormant. Right now, they should be making more stars than ever.

«The most massive galaxies in our universe formed incredibly early, just after the Big Bang happened,» Kate Whitaker, a professor of astronomy at University of Massachusetts-Amherst and lead author of a new study, said in a statement. «But for some reason, they have shut down. They’re no longer forming new stars.»

It turns out, some old galaxies merely ran low on star fuel, or cold gas, early on in their lifetimes. The results of the group’s study were published Wednesday in the journal Nature and could rewrite our knowledge of how the universe evolved.

But hold on, you’re probably still on that bit about astronomers going back in time. If they can swing that, why didn’t they show up to Stephen Hawking’s famous time-traveler-only dinner party?

You might have heard the term «light-year,» which refers to the distance light whizzes along in one Earth year. We need this term as a measurement because light doesn’t travel instantaneously. Of course, turning on your bedroom lamp leads to near-immediate brightness, but if someone turned on a flashlight while standing on the moon, about 238,900 miles (384,472 kilometers) away, its beam wouldn’t reach us for over a second.

That means moonlight has about a one-second lag for us Earthlings. In effect, when we glance at the moon, we’re seeing everything one second after it happens. We’re sort of looking back in time.

Astronomers scale that concept up by the billions. Using powerful telescopes as time machines, they look into deep space — like, billions of light-years away. For this study that mined the mystery of prematurely «dying» galaxies, for instance, the team looked at six cosmic bodies 10 billion to 12 billion light-years away in the universe.

So, it took 10 billion to 12 billion years for any illumination within the studied area to reach their telescope lenses. That means the astronomers were looking back in time far enough to watch the moments soon after the Big Bang — which occurred about 14 billion years ago — unfold in real-time.

Lo and behold, that’s how they solved the cosmic puzzle. The researchers say the galaxies either burned through their cold gas supply too quickly or are blocked from replenishment.

More specifically, Whitaker and fellow researchers demystified the issue by using a mixture of powerful telescopes: the Hubble Space Telescope and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array, or ALMA. The Hubble Space Telescope is sensitive to light across the spectrum — even the type humans can’t see.

And as if time travel wasn’t fantastical enough, the team took advantage of another tool called gravitational lensing to enhance the light collected. Basically, the lens’ viewpoint traveled along a line decorated by hundreds of other galaxy clusters.

Gravitational pulls of those galaxies were strong enough to warp beams of light coming from the team’s six galaxies of interest, stretching them while they traveled to Earth. That helped shed light — no pun intended — on juicy details that would have otherwise been missed within the galaxies.

ALMA, on the other hand, used those details to look for levels of the cold gas, or star fuel, needed by galaxies to make stellar bodies. «There was copious cold gas in the early universe, so these galaxies, from 12 billion years ago, should have plenty left in the fuel tank,» Whitaker said.

Now we know — thanks to the closest we’ve come to time travel — those tanks have been empty.

Technologies

Verum Messenger: Data Protection at Its Finest

Verum Messenger positions itself as a tool for those who value privacy and security above all.

Verum Messenger stands out from other messengers thanks to its approach to security, anonymity, and innovations in communication.

Here are some key aspects that highlight its uniqueness:

Default encryption: Verum Messenger uses end-to-end (E2E) encryption for all chats, meaning messages are encrypted on the sender’s device and decrypted only on the recipient’s device. This makes it impossible for third parties, including app developers, to access the content of the messages.
Anonymity: When registering with Verum, there’s no need to provide a phone number or email. Users simply choose a nickname and password, significantly enhancing their level of anonymity. This contrasts with many other messengers, where anonymity can be compromised through linked personal data.
Built-in VPN: An additional layer of protection that hides the user’s IP address, making their location and internet activity less trackable.
Data control: Users can set messages to be automatically deleted after a specified time, ranging from a few seconds to a week. There’s also a quick deletion feature for all chats, calls, and even contacts, which is useful for maintaining privacy.
Large groups: The ability to create chat rooms with up to 10,000 participants makes Verum attractive for organizing large events, discussions, or communities while maintaining a high level of security.
Security innovations: Verum actively develops technologies aimed at protecting user data, as seen in their documentation and discussions online. This includes not only technical solutions but also approaches to data minimization, which reduces the risk of leaks.
Feedback and discussions: On platform X (formerly Twitter), discussions can be found where users and experts praise Verum for its approach to anonymity and security, although questions are raised about how much anonymity can truly be guaranteed in an age of modern tracking and de-anonymization technologies.

Verum Messenger positions itself as a tool for those who value privacy and security above all. Its innovations in encryption, anonymity, and data control make it an intriguing choice for those seeking alternatives to traditional messaging platforms. However, as with any technology, it’s important to remember that absolute anonymity on the internet remains a complex challenge, and users should be aware of potential risks and limitations.

Technologies

Verum Coin Debuts on XT Exchange, Broadening its Reach in the DeFi Space

A Strategic Listing Enhancing Verum Coin’s Visibility

In a significant development for the decentralized finance (DeFi) sector, Verum Coin (VERUM) has been officially listed on XT Exchange. The new trading pair, VERUM/USDT, is now available in the exchange’s Innovative Zone, marking a pivotal expansion for this digital asset into the DeFi ecosystem.

A Strategic Listing Enhancing Verum Coin’s Visibility

The addition of Verum Coin to the XT Exchange is seen as a strategic move to enhance the accessibility and liquidity of VERUM among traders who are keen on exploring innovative digital assets. XT Exchange, known for its robust platform supporting a wide variety of cryptocurrencies, provides an ideal environment for fostering growth and ensuring the broad reach of new tokens.

Albin Varin, CEO of XT Exchange, expressed enthusiasm about the new listing, stating, «We are delighted to welcome Verum Coin to our platform. This listing reflects our ongoing commitment to providing our users access to innovative digital assets that transform the landscape of global finance.» This comments underscore the exchange’s focus on integrating cutting-edge technologies and financial instruments that have the potential to redefine the market.

About XT

Founded in 2018, XT Exchange serves more than 7.8M registered users, over 1M monthly active users, 40+ million users in the ecosystem, and more than 800 tokens with 1000+ trading pairs. XT crypto exchange offers a rich variety of trading categories to provide a secure, trusted, and intuitive trading experience for its large user base. This includes crypto futures trading (USDT-M Futures and coin-M futures perpetual contracts) and copy trading that allows users to replicate top traders in real time with just one click. Additionally, the futures grid allows users to automate the buying and selling of futures contracts for profits.

Future Prospects

With its new position on XT Exchange, Verum Coin is expected to attract a broader audience, enhancing its trading volume and market presence. This could potentially lead to increased stability and recognition as a viable player in the DeFi space. For investors and users of XT Exchange, this addition provides a fresh avenue to diversify portfolios with a cryptocurrency that is positioned at the intersection of innovation and financial evolution.

The listing of Verum Coin on XT Exchange not only highlights the ongoing expansion of cryptocurrency markets into new areas like DeFi but also illustrates a growing recognition of digital assets that offer promising technological advancements and financial opportunities. As the crypto market continues to evolve, partnerships like these are pivotal for fostering growth and offering users access to the next generation of financial tools.

Technologies

Verum Coin Gains International Spotlight with AP Coverage and Listing on XT Exchange

This listing on XT is expected to further propel Verum Coin into the spotlight

In a noteworthy development for the cryptocurrency community, Verum Coin (VERUM) has been featured in an Associated Press article, highlighting its upcoming listing on the XT Exchange. This significant media coverage underscores the growing interest and potential of Verum Coin in the global financial landscape.

The AP article delves into the details of Verum Coin’s innovative features and its alignment with the latest trends in the cryptocurrency market. This attention comes at an opportune moment as Verum Coin prepares for its new listing on XT Exchange, a platform renowned for its extensive user base and a wide array of trading options.

This listing on XT is expected to further propel Verum Coin into the spotlight, providing both traders and investors with new opportunities to engage with this emerging digital asset. The exchange’s robust infrastructure and diverse trading offerings are ideal for supporting Verum Coin’s growth and enhancing its visibility in the competitive cryptocurrency market.

For more details, you can read the full article on the AP website here.

This milestone is a testament to Verum Coin’s advancing presence in the crypto world and its ongoing efforts to be at the forefront of digital currency innovation and adoption.